Eclipse Flying single-engine jet

Eclipse Aviation surprised the crowds assembled for the opening of this year’s EAA AirVenture show with a new four-place single-engine Eclipse Concept Jet (ECJ). While unveiling a mockup of the ECJ fuselage, Eclipse COO Peg Billson mentioned the jet’s 345-knot maximum cruise speed, 41,000-foot maximum altitude and 1,250-nm range with IFR reserves. The P&WC PW610F-powered ECJ first flew on July 2, and Eclipse currently has no plans to certify it. Rather, it will use it to test the market for a single-engine jet. Eclipse president and CEO Vern Raburn (left) said that the company will decide in a year whether to go ahead with a single-engine jet. Development would take 36 months. Eclipse is not taking deposits on the ECJ.